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New to Citalopram

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laura74902
laura74902

Hi all i am new to this forum.

I have recently been suffering with anxiety and panic attacks. I have been back and forth with my GP for a couple of weeks who has now started me on citalopram. I am currently on day four and I feel absolutely rotten. I did not think the side-effects would be this bad.

Does anyone have any experience with this drug and how long it takes to kick in?

Hope everyone is well x

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • ian90586
    ian90586 laura74902

    Posted

    Hi Laura. Everyone who posts here is in the exact same position as yourself. Taking the medication to improve your horrible anxiety symptoms but then feeling much worse. You can check out Dr. Tracey Marks on YouTube and her video Why antidepressants make your anxiety worse at first. The first 4 weeks will probably be the hardest, but stick at it because these medications can take a long time to properly improve your condition as you will hear from other people having the same experience. Take care.

    • laura74902
      laura74902 ian90586

      Posted

      hi ian sorry for the late reply and thank you for your message. im not feeling too bad today. The burning sensation that I was having seems to have subsided, I do get a headache every now and then but is not too bad to be fair. The only thing that I was worried about is that I was having aches and pains out of nowhere for no reason I did ring the GP and explain this to her and she said that could just be a side-effect of the medication but if it was to to carry on and it is severe then to ring back or go to A&E. It is not severe enough for that, it is just every now and then when i felt myself getting anxious I get a pain somewhere e.g. my chest/arm/leg/back/side/stomach but when im distracted or doing something i dont feel a thing!!

    • ian90586
      ian90586 laura74902

      Posted

      Hi Laura,I also have terrible muscle aches and pains on these medications and having them at the moment. Serotonin is involved in muscle contraction,so when these meds start increasing serotonin that can be a side effect. Should wear off the longer you take the meds so nothing to worry about. Good luck.

    • laura74902
      laura74902 ian90586

      Posted

      thank you ian that is very reassuring. i feel silly sometimes thinking this all cant be from the anxiety/meds but seems to be. i have been out of the house for a good couple of hours today and I’ve come home now I’ve never felt so cold/jittery. it really does take its toll sometimes. hope you are ok and the pain gets better for you soon! X

    • ian90586
      ian90586 laura74902

      Posted

      Yes anxiety is exhausting,and the beginning of treatment especially so as anxiety is increased,but it does improve. If you need reassurance about symptoms or side effects that occur, don't hesitate to ask about them. Take care.

  • nicola75516
    nicola75516 laura74902

    Edited

    hi laura hope you are feeling better? i think everyones experiences are different, last year i went on citalopram and started feeling some relief after day 8 but then i would have bad days too, side effects were pretty grim especially where anxiety was concerned it sent it through the roof, this time around i lasted just 19 days as the side effects were so severe i couldnt function and had awful suicidal thoughts and awful intrusive thoughts which scared the life out of me as i dont really suffer depression just bad anxiety where i feel like i cannot breath always having to get a satisfied breath like i become obsesses so if i couldnt get a satisfied breath panic sets in! hoping to try something else when these citalopram are out my system! this forum really helps but like i said everyone is different but you will get there i promise, just takes time xx nikki

    • laura74902
      laura74902 nicola75516

      Posted

      hi nikki.. im feeling alot better side effect wise thank you.. i am still getting the headaches with it at the moment but could also the fact that im not drinking enough either. some days i wake up absolutely fine and can get on with my day and some days i feel so weak and anxious and dizzy that i have to stay in bed most of the day which doesnt help either!! my anxiety isnt too bad at the moment but as soon as i have those thoughts it comes creeping back in and can feel me chest getting heavy and my arms start to burn.. im getting quite skeptical about the citalopram im like you and not suffering from depression just the anxiety so wonder if its even benefitting me and just to stick to the twice a day propanalol im just not sure anymore.. hope your well and that you can find an alternative medication thats better for you in the long run.. sending hugs, laura xxx

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